What Does Ruth 2:3 Mean in the King James?
And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Hebrew echoes the root of “chance” in “her chance happened,” holding Ruth’s seemingly accidental arrival close to the idea of an encounter.
THE MEANING
An apparently unplanned step can bring you to a meeting whose significance is not visible at arrival. The names in the verse deepen that moment: Boaz is traditionally understood as “in him is strength,” and Elimelech means “my God is king.”
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It dissolves the belief that a meaningful opening must feel planned or extraordinary from the start; an ordinary arrival can be its threshold.
THE ROOT
מִקְרֶהָ
miqrehah
GROWS FROM
קרה
Happen, befall, meet, or encounter.
“hap” in this verse is miqrehah. The Hebrew echoes the same root in וַיִּקֶר מִקְרֶהָ (wayyiqer miqrehah, “her chance happened”). A causative form of this root can also mean to bring an encounter about, so apparent chance and sought-for meeting belong to one word family.
ALSO GROWS
qārāh: To happen, befall, or meet.
קָרָה
The verb echoes the root inside “her hap,” making the arrival sound like an event happening upon Ruth.
hiqrah: To cause something to happen or bring about a meeting.
הִקְרָה
This causative form shows how the same root can describe an encounter brought about, as well as an event that appears to happen by chance.
בֹּעַז
Boʿaz
GROWS FROM
עזז
Be strong; strength.
Boaz is traditionally understood as “in him is strength,” associated with עֹז (ʿoz, strength). In a verse that calls Ruth’s arrival chance, his name quietly places strength on the far side of the encounter.
ALSO GROWS
ʿoz: Strength or might.
עֹז
This noun carries the strength traditionally heard in Boaz’s name.
ʿaz: Strong or mighty.
עַז
This related form reinforces the strength associated with the name of the field’s owner.
אֱלִימֶלֶךְ
ʾElimelekh
GROWS FROM
מלך
To rule or reign; king.
Elimelech combines אֱלִי (ʾelî, my God) and מֶלֶךְ (melekh, king): “my God is king.” Because Ruth arrives at Boaz’s field through kinship to Elimelech, the chance encounter also touches a family identity carrying that claim.
ALSO GROWS
melekh: King.
מֶלֶךְ
This element supplies the “king” in Elimelech’s name.
malkhut: Kingship or reign.
מַלְכוּת
This related word extends the name’s root from a king to the condition of ruling.
THE PATTERN
An ordinary route can carry a meeting whose significance becomes visible only after arrival.
A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.THE THREAD
And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.The Hebrew request uses the causative form of קָרָה (qārāh, happen or meet): to bring an encounter about. Ruth’s וַיִּקֶר מִקְרֶהָ (wayyiqer miqrehah, “her chance happened”) comes from that same root, holding a sought-for meeting and an apparently accidental arrival within one word family.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us